Floral container having a water-impermeable external layer

Abstract

A floral container having a water-impermeable external layer for a floral grouping comprising a holding material and having a water-impermeable external surface layer. The holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping, botanical item or propagule and supporting the botanical item, floral grouping or propagule. A sheet of material may be extended about a portion of the holding material and a crimped portion or bonded portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion or the bonded portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the holding material to provide a decorative cover. A bond or other tying device may also be used to bond the sheet of material to the flower pot.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means, and   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material;     providing a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end;   providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery;   disposing the stem end of the floral grouping in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material; and   forming the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to conform to at least a portion of the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover about the container, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container and the sheet of material extending about a portion of the external surface layer of the container and leaving uncovered a portion of the holding material near the upper end thereof, the floral grouping extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disposing the sheet of material about the container further comprises bonding the sheet of material to a portion of the external surface layer of the container. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of bonding the sheet of material further comprises providing a sheet of material having a bonding material disposed on the upper surface of the sheet of material for bondingly engaging portions of the external surface layer of the container for cooperating to hold the sheet of material in position extended about the external surface layer of the container. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of bonding the sheet of material further comprises forming a crimped portion in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extended about the container. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein step of forming the crimped portion of the sheet further comprises forming the crimped portion in the sheet of material at a position above the upper end of the container. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of forming the crimped portion of the sheet further comprises forming the crimped portion in the sheet of material at a position near the upper end of the container. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of forming the crimped portion further comprises providing the sheet of material with a closure bonding material being disposed on a portion of the sheet of material, and wherein the step of forming the crimped portion further comprises crimping a portion of the sheet of material near the closure bonding material and forming overlapping portions of the sheet of material with the overlapping portions being substantially bonded via the closure bonding material to form the crimped portion. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 3 wherein in the step of providing a sheet of material having a bonding material disposed on the sheet of material and bonding the sheet of material to the outer peripheral surface of the holding material, the sheet of material engages the external surface layer near the upper end of the floral holding material for bondingly connecting portions of the sheet of material to the external surface layer of the container for cooperating to hold the sheet of material in position extended about the container to provide the decorative cover. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 3 wherein in the step of bonding the sheet of material, the bonding material is disposed on the sheet of material and positioned thereon to engage a portion of the holding material near the lower end of the for bondingly connecting a portion of the sheet of material to the external surface layer of the container cooperating to hold the sheet of material in position extended about the container to provide the decorative cover. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disposing the stem end of the floral grouping in the holding material is defined further as supporting the floral grouping in a position extending a distance above the upper end of the holding material. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the sheet of material further comprises providing the sheet of material constructed of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap or polymer film or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material further comprises providing the sheet of material having a thickness in a range from less than about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material further comprises providing the sheet of material constructed of a non-shaped sustaining material. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the container, the container has a cavity which extends from the upper end a distance into the holding material. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a container further comprises providing irrigation means for irrigating the holding material. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 wherein the irrigation means further comprises a tube inserted into the holding material. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 15 wherein the irrigation means further comprises a channel within the holding material. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a container further comprises disposing fertilizing means within the holding material. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a container, the external surface layer further comprises a lacquer composition applied to the outer peripheral surface and lower end of the holding material. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a container, the external surface layer further comprises a glazed layer formed by using glazing means to glaze the outer peripheral surface and the lower end of the holding material. 
     
     
       21. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means, and   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material;     providing a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end;   providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery;   disposing the stem end of the floral grouping in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material;   disposing the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container and the sheet of material extending about a portion of the external surface layer of the container and leaving uncovered a portion of the holding material near the upper end thereof, the floral grouping extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material; and   forming a crimped portion in the sheet of material by disposing a band about a portion of the sheet of material for pulling the sheet of material inwardly toward a central portion of the holding material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extended about the container.   
     
     
       22. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means and the holding means comprising support means disposed therein for additional support and reinforcement to the holding material, and   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material;     providing a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end;   providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery;   disposing the stem end of the floral grouping in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material; and   disposing the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container and the sheet of material extending about a portion of the external surface layer of the container and leaving uncovered a portion of the holding material near the upper end thereof, the floral grouping extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material.   
     
     
       23. The method claim 22 wherein the step of providing support means further comprises disposing the support means at the interface between the outer peripheral surface of the holding material and the external surface layer. 
     
     
       24. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means,   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material, and   a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end, the stem end of the floral grouping disposed in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material;     providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery; and   forming the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to conform to at least a portion of the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover about the container, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container, the sheet of material extending about the external surface layer of the container, the bloom end of the floral grouping extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24 wherein in the step of providing the sheet of material, the sheet of material has been preformed into a decorative cover prior to its disposal about the external surface layer of the container, the cover having an inner surface, an outer surface and an opening adapted to receive the container and wherein the upper surface of the sheet generally comprises the inner surface of the cover and the lower surface of the sheet generally comprises the outer surface of the cover. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of disposing the sheet of material about the container further comprises bonding the sheet of material to a portion of the external surface layer of the container. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 24 wherein in the step of providing a sheet of material, the sheet of material is further defined as having a bonding material disposed on the upper surface for bonding portions of the sheet to portions of the external surface layer of the container for holding the sheet of material in a position extended about the external surface layer of the container. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of disposing the sheet of material about the container further comprises crimping a portion of the sheet of material to form a crimped portion, the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extended about the container. 
     
     
       29. The method of 28 wherein the crimped portion of the sheet is crimped automatically. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 28 wherein step of crimping a portion of the sheet further comprises forming the crimped portion in the sheet of material at a position above the upper end of the container. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of forming the crimped portion of the sheet further comprises forming the crimped portion in the sheet of material at a position near the upper end of the container. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of forming the crimped portion further comprises crimping together portions of a closure bonding material disposed on the sheet of material with the portions of the sheet of material near the closure bonding material and forming overlapping portions of the sheet of material with the overlapping portions being substantially bonded via the closure bonding material to form the crimped portion. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 27 wherein the bonding material is further defined as being disposed on the sheet of material for engaging portions of the external surface layer of the container near the upper end of the container and bondingly connecting portions of the sheet of material to the external surface layer of the container for cooperating to hold the sheet of material in position extended about the container to provide the decorative cover. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 27 wherein the bonding material is further defined as being disposed on the sheet of material and positioned thereon to engage a portion of the external surface layer of the container near the lower end of the container for bondingly connecting a portion of the sheet of material to the container thereby cooperating to hold the sheet of material in position extended about the container to provide the decorative cover. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 24 wherein in the step of providing the sheet of material, the sheet of material is defined further as being constructed of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), denim, burlap or polymer film or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35 wherein the sheet of material is defined further as having a thickness in a range from less than about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 24 wherein the sheet of material is defined further as being a non-shape sustaining material. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 24 wherein in the step of providing a container the holding material has a cavity which extends from the upper end a distance into the floral holding material. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of providing the container further comprises providing irrigation means for irrigating the holding material. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 39 wherein the irrigation means further comprises a tube inserted into the holding material. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim 39 wherein the irrigation means further comprises a channel within the holding material. 
     
     
       42. The method of claim 24 wherein the in the step of providing the container, the container further comprises fertilizing means disposed within the holding material. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 24 wherein in the step of providing a container, the external surface layer further comprises a lacquer composition applied to the outer peripheral surface and lower end of the holding material. 
     
     
       44. The method of claim 24 wherein in the step of providing a container, the external surface layer further comprises a glazed layer formed by using glazing means to glaze the outer peripheral surface and the lower end of the holding material. 
     
     
       45. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means,   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material, and   a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end, the stem end of the floral grouping disposed in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material;     providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery;   disposing the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container, the sheet of material extending about the external surface layer of the container, the bloom end of the floral grouping extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material; and forming a crimped portion above the upper end of the holding material, with at least portions of the crimped portion extending inwardly toward a central portion of the holding material and the crimped portion further comprising at least some portions which extend circumferentially about the upper end of the holding material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extended about the container.   
     
     
       46. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means,   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material, and   a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end, the stem end of the floral grouping disposed in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material;     providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery;   disposing the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container, the sheet of material extending about the external surface layer of the container, the bloom end of the floral grouping extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material; and forming a crimped portion in the sheet of material by disposing a band about a portion of the sheet of material for pulling the sheet inwardly toward a central portion of the holding material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extended about the container.   
     
     
       47. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means, and the holding means comprising support means disposed therein for additional support and reinforcement to the holding material, and   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material, and   a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end, the stem end of the floral grouping disposed in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material;     providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery; and   disposing the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container, the sheet of material extending about the external surface layer of the container, the bloom end of the floral grouping extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material.   
     
     
       48. The method of claim 47 wherein the support means is disposed at the interface between the outer peripheral surface of the holding material and the external surface layer. 
     
     
       49. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means, and   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material;     providing a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end;   providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery;   forming the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to conform to at least a portion of the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover about the container, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container and the sheet of material extending about a portion of the external surface layer of the container and leaving uncovered a portion of the holding material near the upper end thereof; and   disposing the stem end of the floral grouping in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material.   
     
     
       50. A method for providing a decorative assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a container comprising: a porous self-supporting holding material having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, the holding material constructed of a material for receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping without a pot means, and   an external surface layer covering the lower end and outer peripheral surface of the holding material and integral thereto, the external surface layer having the property of being substantially impermeable to an irrigant introduced into the porous self-supporting holding material, the external surface layer serving to retain the irrigant within the holding material;     providing a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end;   providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery;   disposing the stem end of the floral grouping in the holding material and the holding material supporting the floral grouping with a portion of the floral grouping near the bloom end thereof extending a distance upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material;   disposing the sheet of material about the external surface layer of the container to form a decorative cover, the upper surface of the sheet of material being disposed adjacent a portion of the external surface layer of the container and the sheet of material extending about a portion of the external surface layer of the container and leaving uncovered a portion of the holding material near the upper end thereof, the floral grouping extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the holding material; and   forming a crimped portion in the sheet of material above the upper end of the holding material, with at least portions of the crimped portion extending inwardly toward a central portion of the holding material and the crimped portion further comprising at least some portions which extend circumferentially about the upper end of the holding material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extended about the container.